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D+

Is Palm Bay, Florida Safe?

Population 148,092 · Safer than 20% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Palm Bay has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D+ safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 254.6 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,475 per 100K.

Palm Bay Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPalm BayFlorida AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate378.3326.8363.8
Property Crime Rate2167.72070.61,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate241.0--268.2
Theft Rate1475.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate387.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD+

254.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

378/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2168/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Palm Bay

Violent crime in Palm Bay is close to the national average. The rate of 378.3 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2167.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,475 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Palm Bay Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault241
090% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery78
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary337
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,475
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft387
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Palm Bay Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Palm Bay
378.3
State
326.8
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Palm Bay
2167.7
State
2070.6
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Palm Bay Safety

Is Palm Bay safe?
Not especially. Palm Bay earns a D+ with a crime rate of 254.6 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Palm Bay?
254.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 378.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2167.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Palm Bay safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Palm Bay's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,475 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Palm Bay?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Palm Bay generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Palm Bay police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Palm Bay?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Palm Bay's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D+ grade overall.
How does Palm Bay compare to other cities in Florida?
Below average for the state. Palm Bay ranks behind about 79% of Florida cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Palm Bay to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Palm Bay?
Bad. A D+ grade and 254.6 per-thousand rate put Palm Bay below 80% of US cities. Violent crime at 378 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Palm Bay?
378.3 per 100,000, which is 4% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (241), robbery (78), and murder (8.0) per 100,000.

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View all Florida city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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